Parkridge Christian Academy- Back To School Guide 2015-16

Back To School Guide 2015-16 Edition

5600 Coral Ridge Drive Coral Springs, FL 33076

954.346.0236 www.parkridgeca.com

Administration:

WELCOMEBACK!

Children and Family Pastor..............................Brad Boyette Principal, K-8th grade............................... Stacey Wicker, EdS

Dear PCA Families,

ESE Specialist..................................... Mrs. Maryelle deRose Assistant to the Principal ............................Mrs. Julie Rivera Financial Coordinator.................................Ms. Mary Hudson Aftercare Director...................................Mrs. Camila Almeida Athletic Director/PE Teacher.................... Mr. Robert Wicker Facilities Manager..................................... Mr. Bobby Brown Music Teacher/Yearbook ............................ Mr. Tyler Boyette Parent Volunteer Coordinator/ PAWS President…… You???

It is my privilege to welcome you to the 2015-16 school year. This summer has been an exciting time of change and preparation for the administrative staff. We will open the doors with the largest enrollment in our school’s short history. We have been in prayer for your students and your family throughout this summer. Our school theme “Fearless” is from Ephesians 6:8-9; “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”

Receptionist........................................... Mrs. Annette Lopez Cafeteria/ Aftercare Counselor.......... Mrs. Katy Vadiveleso

Elementary Faculty Kindergarten.................................................. Mrs. Carrie Gill First Grade ……………………………………Ms. Maria Mollfulleda

Our goal this year is to seek the Lord first, through prayer. He offers this open communication with those who accept Him as Lord and Savior. This is not to be taken lightly. In an era of multimedia and access to virtually everything, believers sometimes fail to communicate with the One who created all things. It is our intention to purposefully pray as a school body for our individual needs, each other, our country and our world.

Second Grade………………………………… Mrs. Courtney Ortiz Third Grade ……………………………….…………..Mrs. Sheri Geer Fourth grade …………………………….. Ms. Carolina Assuncao Fifth grade …………………………………….Mrs. Stephanie Clark

This guide if filled with information to get you started off on the right foot. As changes occur, it is our goal to communicate in a timely manner. If you have not checked us out online, please visit us at www.parkridgeca.com, “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PCApaws or follow us on instagram at: Parkridge_christian_academy.

Middle School Faculty Bible (6th grade) …………………………………Mr. Tyler Boyette Bible (8th Grade) ………………….…………….Mr. Robert Wicker Language Arts ………………………………..Mrs. Cynthia Burgos

It is my joy to welcome you once again to Parkridge Christian Academy. We will have Meet & Greet on Friday August 14 from 9:00-9:30 a.m. Be sure to join us on Monday August 17th at 8:30 a.m. for our opening Convocation Ceremony in the auditorium.

Math........................................................... Mr. Josh Halulko Social Studies/7th grade Bible........................Mr. Andrew Hill Science ……………………………………….…… Mrs. Angie Manar

Stacey Wicker, EdS K-8th grade Principal

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WHAT’SINSIDE New Family Welcome - Page 4 Parent/Student Handbook – Page 5 Discipline Policy- Page 6 Dress Code- Page 7 Emergency Protocols- Page 8 Internet Access- Page 9 Partnering with Parents Expectations- Page 11 Parent/Teacher Conferences- Page 13 Promotion/Retention Conferences- Page 13 School Supplies - Page 16 Traffic Pattern/Floor Plan- Page 18 What’s New- Page 20 Plug In to PCA- Page 21 Volunteer opportunities- Page 22 Support and Shop- Page 24 Student Life- Page 26 Field Construction Update- Page 28 School Sponsors- Page 29 School Calendar- Page 31

PURPOSE STATEMENT Parkridge Christian Academy’s purpose is to provide a bible-centered and academic learning environment, setting the foundation for a Christ-centered life, equipping Christians with the skills, knowledge, and desire to impact the world for Jesus

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 NEW FAMILIES Welcome to your new school. It is our privilege to welcome our new families to Parkridge Christian Academy We look forward to partnering together with you as we equip and prepare your student for the many challenging and exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

Morning Arrival • • • • •

The administration understands the concerns new students, as well as parents of new students, may have regarding where the students are to go upon arrival in the mornings. It is requested that all parents go through the car pool drop-off lines and allow the staff on duty to assist the students to their assigned locations.

All students will be issued, at Meet & Greet, car shaped signs with your student’s last name. These signs should be placed on the rear view mirror of your vehicle. These signs will assist us with drop off and pick up.

All students should be in the auditorium by 8:20 a.m. Students can be dropped off in the carline as early as 8:00 a.m.

Any students arriving after the auditorium doors are closed should report directly to the school office for a tardy slip.

Our goal is for students to be in class, learning by 8:30 a.m.

Dismissal Procedures The primary way on and off campus is through the carline. Using your carline tags will assist with pick up in the afternoon. The carline begins promptly at 2:30 pm (for elementary students ) and 3:30 p.m. (for middle school students). Students not picked up in carline will br brought to aftercare. Parents are encouraged to notify the office in the event they will be late for pickup. Families will incur a cost of $20 per afternoon of single day care. For families needing extended care on a regular basis, you are encouraged to enroll in our afterschool ministry, which is open until 6:00 p.m.

Contact Information To save you time and to serve you better, we provide this list of categories. We are glad you are a member of the Parkridge Christian Academy family, and we want to be of service to you.

School office hours are from 7:45 A.M. to 6:00 P.M..

Our telephone numbers are: School Office (954) 346-0236 Church Office (954) 346-9009 To report an absence: (954) 346-0236 ext. 26 or attendance@parkridgeca.com To Inquire About: Curriculum Discipline Attendance Financial Matters Afterschool School Athletics Clubs, Enrichment Volunteer Opportunities

Call: Principal Classroom Teacher then Principal Julie Rivera Mary Hudson Camilla Almeida Robert Wicker Club Director P.A.W.S. President

General Information The Parkridge Christian Academy website may be accessed at www.ParkridgeCA.com and www.RenWeb.com. These sources allow parents to stay informed of homework, projects, upcoming test dates, and attendance records in each child’s classroom; stay up to date on school events; access media center resources and more.

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Parent/Student Handbook Attendance Policy All students are required to attend school every day. Parents are responsible for their child’s school attendance. Scholarship students must follow all school attendance policies and conditions.

There are no excused or unexcused absences. Any class missed counts as an absence which is accumulated over the semester. This includes: Medical appointments, illnesses, conferences and retreats, and absences requested by a parent with prior notification to the administration. If a student misses a class, for any reason, this counts as an absence. Students will be considered absent from any class to which they miss more than ½ the class period.

Principal Directive: Students with one absence during each nine week period will not be eligible for the Perfect Attendance Award. Students with six or more tardies or early sign-outs each or combined will not be eligible for the Perfect Attendance Award. Excessive absences of six or more will result in the student not being eligible for the Principal Honor Roll. Excessive absences and/or tardies based on the information pertaining to Patterns of Non-attendance, Absences, Early Sign-outs, and Tardies will be addressed case–by–case and the student may be placed on probation and/or suspended from the Academy as a result.

Patterns of Non-attendance Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, early-sign-outs, or absences for all or any part of the day. The maximum number of days that a student may be absent without acceptable documentation is 5.

A. A student who has had at least five absences within a calendar month, or 10 absences within the semester, may be exhibiting a pattern of non-attendance.

B. Unless acceptable documentation is available, an accumulation of daily absences, by tardiness, or early sign-outs that equals 5 days (30 hours) in a marking period or 10 days (60 hours) within two marking periods may establish a pattern of non-attendance.

C. "Habitual truant" means a student who has 15 absences within 90 calendar days with or without the knowledge or justifiable consent of the child's parent.

Tardiness Tardiness is defined as a student not being in the classroom/auditorium when the class is scheduled to begin.

1. Excessive tardiness will be addressed case–by–case to determine if there is a pattern of non-attendance. Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, early-sign-outs, or absences for all or any part of the day.

2. Habitual tardiness is defined as being tardy six times or more within a marking period.

Principal Directive: Students with six or more tardies during each nine week period will receive the following consequences. First, the student will not be eligible for the Principal Honor Roll. Second, the student will not be eligible for the Perfect Attendance Award. Excessive tardiness will be addressed case–by–case and any student with excessive tardiness may be suspended from the Academy.

Bullying – Short Definition Bullying means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. It is further defined as: unwanted purposeful written, verbal, nonverbal, or physical behavior, including but not limited to any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, that has the potential to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment or cause long term damage; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation, is carried out repeatedly and is often characterized by an imbalance of power. Bullying may involve, but is not limited to: unwanted teasing, intimidation, threats, cyber-bullying, physical violence, theft, harassment, humiliation, social exclusion, including incitement and/or coercion, rumor or spreading of falsehoods.

Reporting Bullying Parkridge Christian Academy has an online portal for reporting bullying. Students/Parents must go to www.reportabully.com, locate our school and complete a report. All reports through this portal forward directly to the principal and administrative staff will investigate the claims.

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Cheating / Plagiarism helping others to obtain inflated grades. In addition to receiving all consequences listed below, students found to be in violation of the expectation for academic honesty may lose additional academic and extracurricular privileges.

Academic Dishonesty Consequences may consist of all or part of the following:  Parent Contact  Zero on Assignment  Saturday Detention  In-School Suspension  Out-of-School Suspension  School Behavior Contract  Recommendation for Expulsion

Contact Information Changes Parents are responsible for keeping all student and family information required on the application and on the checklist up to date. The PCA must be notified of any changes - residences, employment, phone numbers or email addresses. Any changes (medical, address, phone, etc.) must be communicated with the office administration within five school days.

Discipline - General Consistent, loving boundaries help children learn about safety and living with others. Reasonable, realistic limits in an enriched learning environment give children the opportunity to choose appropriate, pro-social behavior.

Redirection, providing choices, consistent actions, praise and encouragement help to prevent discipline problems before they happen.

Logical or natural consequences for wrong choices of behavior help children to learn self-control. By reinforcing acceptable behavior and letting children know what to expect, children experience feelings of security, warmth, and love. No method of discipline is tolerated in which a child is hurt or humiliated.

If there is anything at home that may be affecting your child’s behavior, please let us know. Often children react to stress by acting out or withdrawing as a result of their fears. Having a strong partnership with you is invaluable in allowing us to know how to best help your child.

Teacher/Administration Discipline Steps Each teacher will provide every parent and student with classroom rules and a specific classroom management plan that includes the following components: Reward-based incentives, Consequence-based activities, warnings, numbered consequence, RenWeb behavior report (parent will be called before first time it is to be sent), and a request for a teacher/parent conference.

Principal Directive: Students sent to the principal’s office will receive the following consequences. First, the student will not be eligible for the Principal Honor Roll. Second, the student will not be eligible for the Christian Character Award. Third, the student will be given a written assignment to complete and turn into to the Principal. Excessive misbehavior will be addressed case–by–case and any student with excessive misbehavior may be suspended or ultimately dismissed from the Academy with no refund.

Administrative Referral It is not possible to provide a precise, all-encompassing list of infractions for which an Administrative Referral is issued; however, some examples include, but are not limited to: continued inappropriate behavior after classroom consequences have been issued; isolated acts of disobedience and/or disrespect; inappropriate conduct for a substitute teacher; deliberate physical contact, including “play fighting” and/or “rough housing” where no injury has occurred; lack of consideration for the welfare of others, especially in the halls, at lockers, at lunch, etc.; verified instances of verbal abuse; continued disregard for school rules, such as Dress Code and Tardiness; and any inappropriate behavior for which lesser consequences have not yielded the desired results.

Parents will be notified when their child receives an Administrative Referral. If a student receives a second Administrative Referral during the school year, parents will be required to meet with an Administrator. If a student receives a third Administrative Referral during the school year, a Suspension will also be issued.

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Administrative Referral, Continued Suspension from school is the next step in the Administrative Discipline hierarchy and should be considered extremely serious by students and parents. A Suspension is automatically issued with a student’s third Administrative Referral during the school year. In addition, a student can be suspended from school for specific isolated acts, even if no previous Administrative Referral has been issued to the student.

Infractions which result in Suspension from school for one or more days include, but are not limited to: continued acts of disobedience and/or disrespect; inappropriate conduct for which an Administrative Referral has not been effective; flagrant acts of disobedience, disrespect, and/or defiance; physical contact that results in an injury, regardless of initial intent; deliberate acts of aggression; retaliation for real or perceived wrongs; vandalism; any behavior and/or pattern of behavior that jeopardizes the health and safety of others; and any behavior and/or pattern of behavior for which the Administration deems Suspension for one or more days to be the most effective means to bring about desired changes in behavior.

Students are required to complete all work missed due to a suspensions. A grade of 0 (zero) will be recorded for all schoolwork that is not completed. Any student who receives a Suspension will be prohibited from participating in any capacity in PCA extracurricular activities (including but not limited to enrichment classes, athletic practices/games, rehearsals, dances, class trips, etc.) during the Suspension Period. Parents will be notified of the reasons for the Suspension. Before a student is eligible to return to class, the student and his/her parents must meet with an administrator. The PCA School Board is notified of students who have been suspended from school.

Dress Code Parkridge Christian Academy is a uniformed school to ensure the modesty and neatness of its students and to allow all students the freedom to be themselves apart from the stress of competition in attire. Our minds are to be on the things of God, not the things of this world. “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:31) Students should be neat, modest, well groomed and in uniform while on the school campus during the school day.

Uniforms- Students in all grades must wear the full school uniform during the entire school day except on announced special occasions.

Any shirt worn under the uniform shirt must have no inappropriate letter or designs and, for boys, may not be visible below the bottom of the uniform shirt. Skort/short length for girls should be within four (4") inches of the top of the knees and not shortened by rolling up the waistband or cuff. All uniform clothing must be supplied by Flnn O’Hara. Students out of uniform will be encouraged to come into compliance immediately. Students may not alter the uniform in anyway.

Outer Wear- During times of unusually cold weather, students may wear plain red, white or blue outerwear.

Footwear- Footwear for boys and girls should consist of regular dress shoes (i.e. closed-toe with full back, not straps) or athletic shoes appropriate in design, color and condition to enhance the total uniform. Sandals, flip-flops or Crocs-style shoes are not acceptable.

Other Items- Boys and girls, when appropriate, are to wear belts. Other items such as wallet chains, hats, sunglasses, headbands and/or elastic bands etc. are not to be worn on campus during the school day. Visible tattoos or body piercings are not permitted. Boys may not wear earrings on campus or at any school function.

Hair- Students are to keep their hair neat, well-groomed, and in styles appropriate to the school setting. There should be no coloring/dyeing of hair using unnatural colors, i.e., red, blue, green, etc. Boys are not permitted to “bleach” their hair, and are to keep their hair moderate in length and style. Boys’ hair length in front should not hamper vision (eyebrow length), on the sides not below the middle of the ear and the back no longer than the top of the collar. No Mohawks, shaved designs, etc. The administration reserves the exclusive right to determine the appropriateness of hair styles for boys or girls.

Jewelry / Tattoos Silly bands, rainbow loom bracelets are not allowed during PCA school hours. Also, the only jewelry piercing allowed are traditional ear lobe piercings for girls. Earring may not be longer than 2 inches. Any jewelry or accessories that distract from the learning environment is not allowed. Please refrain from applying temporary tattoos in visible areas of the skin (face, hands, or arms). Permanent tattoos are not permitted.

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Emergency & Crisis Management Protocols  Parent Notification: During an emergency, the Director will follow the adopted protocol based on the nature of that emergency. In the process of handling the emergency, the Director will activate the Parent Notification Team at the appropriate time. The Parent Notification Team will then proceed to contact parents in the most effective way, based on the nature of the emergency. There may be various methods of notification used, such as, individual parent telephone contact, e-mail (Renweb), the school’s website, and local media, if necessary.  Media Spokesperson: In the event of a major situation that involves Parkridge Christian Academy or Parkridge Baptist Church employees or church members necessitating local or state agencies and/or media to be on campus for any reason, the designated media spokes person will address these agencies/organizations. The designated spokes person is first the Senior Pastor, then the Children and Families Pastor, then School Principal. Any other employee is not allowed to address these agencies without the permission of the above mentioned designees.  Child Emergencies: 9-1-1 will be called if needed. Appropriate calls to the administration and parent will follow. Emergency telephone numbers are available in the classroom binder. All applicable injury forms must be completed immediately by the employee and the parent. (The student’s insurance will be primary and then the school insurance will be secondary as determined by the case. The responsibility of making an insurance claim on behalf of the student is the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian.)  Fire Emergency: All employees know how to report a fire to the fire department, know all fire exits, and participate in monthly fire drills. They are familiar with the operation of fire extinguishers. Emergency exits are clearly marked – primary and secondary fire escape routes are posted in each classroom. When the fire alarm rings the building is evacuated immediately. Each class has a designated area to go to for drill purposes. Attendance is taken immediately when this area is reached. Attendance sheets and parent contact telephone numbers must be with the teachers during fire drills. Every year one of the fire drills is done at lunch/nap time.

Fire drills are conducted monthly and recorded for review by licensing organizations.  Evacuation Procedures: Students line up at one of the designated exit doors as directed by the school staff; Staff is responsible for making sure all students are counted; Lead teachers must bring attendance sheet; Staff leads students exiting the building in an organized manner; Close the door after exiting; Staff leads students to designated safe location; Lead teachers must take roll; Wait for further instructions.  First Aid: First aid bags are located in each classroom and in the preschool office. In the event a student is sick with fever the child will be brought to the office and the student’s parent will be contacted by the office staff for immediate pick up. If a child received a minor injury, the principal will contact the parent by phone and/or using a RenWeb report.  Hurricane/Tornado: When the school/teacher has been informed of an approaching tornado or imminent hurricane force winds, all students must be moved away from the windows into a closed room or hallway or under a desk or table (closets and bathrooms provide the greatest protection) on campus. All classroom doors will be closed. Attendance will be taken immediately when the students have moved into place. Attendance sheets must be with the teachers at all times. At least two tornado drills one in the fall and one in the spring will be held each school year.  Evacuation Due to Hazardous Chemical Spill or No Running Water: When the school/teacher has been informed of these situations resulting in an immediate evacuation, all students must be escorted to either Eagle Ridge Elementary or the Charter school next door. Attendance sheets must be with the teachers at all times. Parents will begin to be contacted as quickly as everyone is safe and phone/e-mail communication can be established.  Lockdown: The concept of a school lockdown involves a “no one in, no one out” scenario. However, due to the layout of the school (i.e. no hall way down stairs, no connecting stairwell to the auditorium), the administration will facilitate and direct staff as to pick up protocols and case-by-case situations. Children are not permitted to leave the school during a lockdown, nor are off–duty staff allowed in. Doors are locked and the children must ascribe to the directives of school personnel. The administration will contact parents immediately and will direct parents as to pick up protocols based on a case-by-case situation.  National Emergency (9/11): In the event of a National Emergency, the school would implement lockdown protocols first. Next, the school will defer to directives given by the local emergency officials. Also, the administration will contact parents immediately and will direct parents as to pick up protocols based on a case-by-case situation.

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Ethical Conduct Policies As required by Section 1002.421(4)(b), Florida Statutes, the school has adopted policies establishing standards of ethical conduct for instructional personnel and school administrators. Including the following: • Refer to The Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida pamphlet • Acknowledge your duty to report, and procedures for reporting, alleged misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student • All staff annually receive an explanation of the liability protections provided under Sections 39.203 and 768.095, Florida Statutes Procedures for Reporting Misconduct In compliance with Florida Statutes, Sections 1002.421(4) and 1006.061, any misconduct by instructional personnel or from administration which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student should be reported to one of the following PCA staff members at 954-346-0236: Brad Boyette, Children and Families Pastor; Stacey Wicker, Principal

Field Trips Field trips may be held on Parkridge premises or off-site. Field trips my take place as often as once a month. Specific information about scheduled field trips will be sent home and/or e-mailed. Each child will need a signed permission form to participate in the field trip, especially if the field trip involves transportation

Internet Access PCA students, faculty, administrators and staff have the privilege of filtered access to the Internet. Although such filtering system can eliminate some access to offensive and pornographic materials, no filter is 100% effective, and it is impossible for PCA to restrict access to all questionable materials. Therefore, we expect users to act responsibly in their searches and to immediately disengage from any materials that are inappropriate and to report the situation to the faculty member or administrator in charge of the activity. Although the school cannot effectively restrict 100% of the content of information obtained by students via the Internet, obtaining material that is explicitly labeled as not intended for minors will be considered a violation of school rules. Furthermore, making public or passing on any material that is pornographic, violent in nature, or otherwise harassing is totally unacceptable and will be dealt with immediately by the appropriate administrator. Students may not download any files without express permission from a teacher. Files are not to be downloaded to the school’s local or network hard drives without permission from a teacher or administrator.

Internet Safety: Students should never give out personal information (address, telephone number, name of school, address of school, date of birth, social security number, credit card number, etc.) over the Internet. Students also should not meet with someone that they have contacted online without prior parent approval. Safety is the responsibility of the parent and student. PCA is not liable in any way for irresponsible acts on the part of the student.

Pirated Software: The term “pirated software” refers to the use and transfer of stolen software. Commercial software is copyrighted, and each purchaser must abide by the licensing agreement published with the software. There is no justification for the use of illegally obtained software. Students are prohibited from bringing to school their own software.

Network Access: Accessing the accounts and files of others is prohibited. Attempting to impair the network or to bypass restrictions set by the technology administrator is prohibited. Obtaining another’s password or rights to another’s directory or e-mail on the network is a violation of school rules as well as a form of theft. Taking advantage of a person who inadvertently leaves a computer without logging out is not permitted. Using someone else’s password or posting a message using another’s log-in name is a form of dishonesty, just as is plagiarism or lying, and will be treated as a violation.

School’s right to inspect: PCA reserves the right to inspect user directories for inappropriate files and to remove them if found and to take other appropriate action if deemed necessary, including notification of parents. The school also reserves the right to inspect any personal electronic devices brought to campus. In such case, students must provide any passwords to inspect the device upon request by a school administrator. Do not assume that any messages or materials on the Internet or on the school’s systems are private.

E-mail: E-mail, short for electronic mail, is any of the various systems that transmit some form of electronic representation of a page or message from one location to another. Electronic mail cannot be used to harass or threaten others. The school reserves the right to randomly check e-mail or text messages. E-mail messages must not include personal attacks and should follow the normal rules of appropriate public language. They should not contain any language or content which the author would not be willing to share from the podium at a school meeting. Students should be made aware that deleted e-mails can be undeleted. Any person who believes that they have been harassed or threatened by an email communication should immediately report the concern in accordance with the school’s No Harassment/No Bullying policy.

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Computer Care: Members of the school community will not abuse, tamper with, or willfully damage any computer equipment, use the computer for any reason other than appropriate work, or bring food or drink into any computer area. Any intentional acts of vandalism will result in discipline, and parents will be held responsible for replacement or repairs.

Reporting Requirements/Discipline: Any student who accesses inappropriate material on the internet or receives harassing, threatening, or inappropriate materials while on the internet or via e-mail, must immediately report the concern to the supervising staff member so that the situation can be investigated and addressed appropriately. Parents are responsible for enforcing age limitations for various websites such as social networking sites. Facebook restricts participation to persons 13 years of age and above. Students who violate any aspect of this computer usage policy will be subject to appropriate discipline and loss of computer or Internet privileges.

Internet- Social Media Policies Social media encompasses a broad array of online activity including social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Ask.fm, blogs, and other similar online or Internet communications. Because this form of communication is vast and growing, we feel it is important to communicate to you the school’s position regarding a student’s use of social media or networking.

Use at School or a School-Related Event: We do not permit students to access social media and/or social networking sites while on school property or at a school-related event. We have taken steps to block many of the social media/networking sites on our network, but technology will undoubtedly work faster than our IT Department. Therefore, even if you are able to access such sites on school property or at a school-related event, you should understand that your activities are in violation of school policy and may result in disciplinary action.

Use Away from School Property: It is not our goal to regulate a student’s personal online activities when not on school property or at a school-related event. Please understand, however, that certain activities might impact a student’s relationships with other students or school employees, or school rights, that we do reserve the right to regulate. All students should ensure that they are familiar with school’s conduct policies to avoid any online communications that might violate those policies. For example, you should ensure that your online activities do not violate a school policy regarding bullying or harassment, or other similar policies pertaining to how students interact with each other. If you post or say something online that makes another student feel uncomfortable, your activity may result in an investigation and possible discipline.

Students should also be aware that teachers and administrators periodically check such sites and may determine that off-campus behavior violates the school conduct code by making disparaging or negative comments about the school, administration, or faculty members in a manner that is disruptive to the school’s educational mission or activities.

Students should not be “friends” with any faculty member on any of these social networking sites. Any violation of this prohibition must be reported to the Administration immediately. In addition, postings on social networking or other Internet sites of students engaging in inappropriate behavior (such as drinking, smoking, sexual actions, etc.) is prohibited. Students are expected to cooperate in investigations by providing access to such sites.

Students are not permitted to use the school’s name, logo, trademark, or service mark in online activities. Students are not permitted to post photographs of the school, its locations, activities, students, parents, or employee-related activities on line. Students are not permitted to create websites or social networking profiles to rate teachers, discuss aspects of the school, or otherwise disclose information online that the school would find offensive or inappropriate if posted in the school’s newspaper. Finally, students are not permitted to disclose any confidential information regarding the school, employees, students, parents, or activities online.

Your Identity Online: You are responsible for any of your online activity with a school email address, and/or which can be traced back to the school’s domain, and/or which uses school assets.

What you publish on such personal online sites should never be attributed to the school and should not appear to be endorsed by or originated from the school.

School’s Right to Inspect: The school reserves the right to inspect all electronic data and usage occurring over the school’s network or on school property without prior notice. We also reserve the right to assess information in the public domain on the Internet and to discipline students for any violation of these guidelines.

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Lunch Healthy lunches may be brought from home or a catered lunch may be ordered. Note: Microwave heating is not available. Lunch orders are accepted through www.YummyInMyTummy.com. In 1 Corinthians 6:20 we read, “You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body”. Fast food is not permitted in the cafeteria. If you prefer to serve you child fast food, please plan to stay with your child and eat lunch on the patio during their lunch period. No sodas or carbonated beverages are to be packed in the lunch. Students may access the soda machine after school hours but not during the school day.

Medical Concerns Allergies All allergies to medication and/or other substances must be stated on the student application and on the emergency medical forms. Florida State law requires that we have a signed note from your child’s physician stating any food allergies that your child may have. The physician must recommend alternate food choices for your child. Information about children with allergies will be posted in all classrooms and documented in RenWeb. Communicable Illnesses Any child who is suspected of having a communicable or infectious disease or who develops a fever or other signs and symptoms that include, but are not limited to, any of the following: diarrhea, vomiting, conjunctivitis (pink eye), skin rash/infection, or exposed, open skin lesions shall be sent to the school office and isolated until a parent/guardian is contacted and the child is picked up. Be sure that your emergency numbers are up to date. It is imperative that we know where you can be reached at all times even when you are out of town. If you cannot be reached, your emergency contact persons will be called. Ill children shall not return to the facility without medial authorization or until the signs and symptoms of the disease are no longer present. A child must be free of fever and/or diarrhea for more than 24 hours before returning to school. In case of contagious disease the program has the right to ask for doctor notice giving the authorization to allow the child to come back to school.

Please contact us as soon as possible if your child contracts a communicable disease such as chicken pox, strep infection or any easily transmitted illness. A note will be sent home with classmates to alert parents to keep outbreaks under control.

Medication The Parkridge staff shall provide the giving or application of medication only if a parent’s written order and/or a prescription from a physician is submitted to the office. Over-the-counter medications are administered only when the parent has completed this release form and the medication is in its original container. Prescription medications are administered only with written authorization and when the medication is in its original container. The prescription medication container must include a label on the outside of the container with the child’s name, the physician’s name, and the date.

All medication must be sent to the office so that the administration may facilitate its storage and distribution. All medication given out will be documented in a medicine log book.

Mildly-Ill A child who exhibits any combination of the following symptoms must not be brought to school: clear runny nose, cough, or a sore throat even if the child has been on an antibiotic for more than 24 hours. A child not feeling well, such as lethargic behavior and/or crying should not be in school. Also, a child not well enough to play outdoors should not be in school. If you are in doubt for any reason, please keep the child home, as we all know children of preschool age are all extremely susceptible to illness. A child must be free of fever and/or diarrhea for more than 24 hours before returning to school.

If allergies are the cause of persistent cold-like symptoms, we may require a statement from your doctor.

Partnering with Parents Expectations Parkridge’s administration and staff must be able to partner with every enrolled family. If at any point it is determined the partnership between the school and the parents is no longer present, the enrolled student will either be dismissed on a determined date or the student will not be accepted for re-enrollment the following year. “Partnering with parents” expectations include the following: Moral Training, Support, Cooperation, Criticism/Disagreement, Responsibility, and Arbitration.

Moral Training - I understand that I am responsible for actively pursuing the moral training of my child(ren) at home. I agree that parents are personally responsible for the moral and spiritual training of their children as a matter of stewardship before God, and that the school expects to maintain and support the training that is already taking place in the home (Ephesians 6:4).

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Partnering with Parents Expectations, cont’d I understand with enrollment at Parkridge Christian Academy, I have entered into a trust relationship between our family and the school regarding the moral training of our children. In that regard, I understand that I am responsible to follow-up at home with specific training that Parkridge Christian Academy recommends based on the director’s and teacher’s observation and experience with my child at Parkridge Christian Academy. I agree that discipline is a necessary part of the teaching process and that appropriate measures will be taken to help the child understand how to change poor behavior through biblical principles (Proverbs 22:6, Romans 12:2).

I know I am strongly encouraged to attend and be actively involved in a local church (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

I know that I am strongly encouraged to complete an approved Christian parenting course within one year of my child’s enrollment, and should submit the certificate of completion to the school office (Ephesians 6:4).

Declaration of Moral Standards Parkridge Christian Academy’s interpretation of biblical standards for sexual behavior is as follows: any sexual misconduct—including, but not limited to—premarital, extramarital, or homosexual activity; sexual harassment; use or viewing of pornographic material or websites; and sexual abuse of children is forbidden among its staff and violates the employment requirement of being a Christian role model. Our employees are required and our school parents are strongly encouraged to please report any misconduct that compromises our employees’ responsibility to be Christian role models.

Parkridge Christian Academy declares that there are unique roles of males and females as clearly defined in Scripture, and that Romans 1:24-32 condemns the homosexual lifestyle (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:9-20; Ephesians 4:1-11, 5:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 1 Peter 1:15-16, 2:15-17; 1 John 3:1-3). By enrolling your student at PCA, it is an acknowledgment that the family is in agreement with this declaration.

Support – I agree to support the standards of the PCA in every area of its philosophy and policies including academic, behavioral, spiritual, dress, moral, disciplinary, and maintain the basic principles of Biblical morality in my home.

Cooperation – I agree to cooperate fully with the teachers and the administration of Parkridge Christian Academy. I understand that PCA has the right to dismiss a student who is found to be out of harmony with the goals and ideals of the work and life of PCA and/or a parent(s) who is not partnering with the school.

Criticism/Disagreement – I agree to promptly address any criticism I have of the administration, staff or policies of PCA directly to the teacher, administrator, or board member in that order, rather than in front of my child or among the other parents in public and commit to following the Matthew 18 principles for Biblical resolution of any problems. First, speak directly to the staff member involved. Second, meet with the staff member and the Principal. Finally, meet with the staff member, Principal, and PCA Board Member/Pastor Brad Boyette.

If a disagreement arises, I understand Parkridge Christian Academy staff and Parkridge Baptist Church staff will make every effort to use the Matthew 18 principle to resolve the issue(s). However, I understand when a resolution cannot be reached that allows for a partnership between the school and parents to continue even after these steps have been exhausted, dismissal will be the resolution.

Matthew 18 In Matthew 18:15-17 it describes what we should do when there is conflict between two people. Please use the following guidelines listed below: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Confront the individual in love through written and/or verbal communication regarding your disagreement Respectfully respond to any communication regarding conflict.

If resolution is not the result, then the Principal should be notified and another meeting with all parties involved will be held.

Resolution should result at the conclusion of this meeting. In the event resolution is not reached, the director may make a referral for a board/pastoral conference.

If at any point it is determined the partnership between the school and the parents is no longer present, the enrolled student will either be dismissed on a determined date or the student will not be accepted for re-enrollment the following year.

While your student is enrolled at Parkridge, Matthew 18 is expected in all situations - among the students, parents, and staff.

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Responsibility –I recognize my responsibility to maintain close communication with my child’s teacher by attending called conferences, by following through with any homework, assignments or slips to be signed and by seeking the teacher’s opinion when there is any question about my child’s progress or behavior at school.

Arbitration – In further consideration for the enrollment of my child, I, individually, and on behalf of my child, hereby agree to submit the rules to be used and procedure that will be followed and to binding Christian arbitration any matters which cannot otherwise be resolved; and expressly waive any and all rights in law and equity to bringing any civil disagreement before a court of law, except that judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

Parent / Teacher Conferences Your child’s teacher will be available for a conference upon request when needed. Do not ask a teacher to discuss your child when he/she is brought to school or being picked up from school. Teachers will be greeting or dismissing the children at this time. Please feel free to call to set up a conference with a teacher and/or the principal.

Physical Education On PE scheduled days, elementary students must be dressed in comfortable uniform pants/shorts, shirts, and sturdy sneakers with socks. For their own safety, students without proper shoes are required to sit out during P.E. activities for the day.

Middle school students are required to dress for P.E. class in the P.E. uniform. Students lose participation points for each day they are not dressed out properly. After 3 days of not dressing out for PE in the marking period, students will receive a lunch detention. Subsequent days of not dressing out will be considered disobedience and consequences will be issues accordingly.

Occasionally, a student will have a physical condition that will require an excuse from P.E. A written excuse must be submitted to the teacher. A physician’s written statement of any limitations or restrictions may be required. If a student is excused from P.E., activity at recess and after-school sports, if any, will also be restricted depending on the nature of the illness.

Promotion/Retention Criteria Students must master grade level content in order to promote to the following grade level. Report cards, standardized test and classroom projects will be used to measure mastery.

- When a failure is received in any two quarters in a year, a percentage grade no lower than 50% will be recorded. However, if a student is negligent in completing work, a failing grade of 0% will be recorded.

- Credit for a subject failed with a quarter percentage grade below 60% is received by one of the following methods: o Repeat the course another year and earn a passing grade. o Attend an accredited summer school with a minimum grade of 70% in the course. o Make up failed course work with a minimum 30 contact hours with a certified teacher.

- A failure in English, Bible, Science, Math or History must be made up before promotion into the next grade level.

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In all courses failed, regardless of the makeup method, both grades appear on the student’s transcript.

Property Damage Campus property or personal property destroyed, damaged, or lost by an enrolled student will be repaired or replaced immediately by the student’s family.

Reporting Child Abuse Parkridge Christian Academy employees are obligated by law to report their suspicions of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment to the Florida Abuse Hotline in accordance with section 39.201 of the Florida Statues (F.S.). If an employee has any suspicion or abuse, it will be reported immediately to the Florida Abuse Hotline Information System at 1-800-962-2873. This report may or may not be submitted with the administration’s knowledge and it is never submitted with the knowledge of the child’s parents or guardian.

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School Closing In the event Broward County closes their schools for any reason, Parkridge Christian Academy will also close (i.e. weather, tragic event, etc.). Parents will be notified through RenWeb’s Parent Alert system. A text and phone call will be sent. Parkridge will reopen based on its own independent ability to re-open. The school will be open following a hurricane or like weather event if the school has power, has enough staff available to work, and if no structural damage has occurred.

Security All Parkridge Christian Academy administrative and teaching staff must utilize their authorized PCA identification badges at all times. All academy visitors must present proper identification at the school office in order to remain on campus. Parents are to drop off and pickup students in the carline. Early sign outs and late arriving students need to be escorted to the school office by their parent in order to be properly signed on/in to school.

Smoking Parents and all individuals on campus are asked to refrain from smoking on school premises or outside where it could be visible to the children.

Snacks and Birthday Parents are responsible for providing a healthy snack for your child each school day. You may also provide a drink; however, water is always available. Snacks may be any combination of the following: crackers, breads, pretzels, fruits, cheese, vegetables, and/or deli meats.

Note: If you fail to provide a snack for your child one will not be provided.

Birthdays may be celebrated by providing baked goods during lunch for the student’s class only. Please notify your child’s teacher if you wish to provide a special dessert on your child’s birthday. No candles are allowed to be lit on campus. All visitors must check in to the front office

Student Lockers (6-8th grade students) Student lockers are assigned to all students in grades 6-8. Combination locks are provided by the school. Locks or lockers are not to be changed without permission from the administration. If the student misplaces the lock, a replacement fee will be charged and a new lock will be provided by the school.

Lockers must be kept locked at all times. The school administration reserves the right to check and/or inspect any lockers at any time deemed necessary. A student should not allow other students to know his/her locker combination. Defacement of school lockers will be considered an act of vandalism and will result in disciplinary action. No questionable pictures or objects should be displayed on or stored in lockers.

Student Supply List Each school year a student supply list is made available for each grade level. Families may purchase prepackaged school supplies through our partnership with www.schooltoolbox.com. All items purchased through this site also provides one meal for a child. Items are shipped directly to the school. Please provide these materials by the fall orientation day or at the latest by the first day of school. Replenish consumable items as needed throughout the school year.

Summer Homework To help maintain important reading and math skills over the summer, students will be required to complete a specific number of minutes on our learning programs (Symphony Math, Ascend). Students must also complete a reading assignment and a service project that impacts the world for Christ. Details are included in the grade level packets available in the front office or on our website.

Textbooks Textbooks are supplied by the school. If a textbook is lost, the student will be billed the amount it costs to replace the book. Students are required to keep books protected with book covers at all times. A fine system will be implemented at the end of the school year for any damage such as tears, writing in text, and damaged bindings. The preceding policy also covers materials borrowed from the library.

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Visitors All visitors must report to the office upon arrival – no exceptions! This may include a parent, visitor to the school or visitor to the church.

Upstairs church offices are accessible to church members and the general public. However, access to classrooms on the second floor is restricted to authorized school visitors only. All visitors must sign in and will either have a PCA I.D. badge or authorized company badge or uniform.

Volunteer Opportunities – Parent P. A. W. S. (Plan * Advocate * Witness * Serve) Parent PAWS is an organization of volunteer parents who partner with the Parkridge Christian Academy’s administration and staff to enhance the student activities, community public relations, outreach, and services. There are many opportunities for you to help serve our children. There are behind the scenes activities, helping with special events, as well as working with the students and teachers in the classroom. Any amount of time you can give will bless our children. Time contributed to this organization is considered for school service hours. In the case of serving as a room parent, please adhere to the Room Parent Handbook available in the office.

Withdrawal Procedures If for any reason you must withdraw your child from school or daycare, you must notify the director of admissions and the bookkeeper at least two days in advance so that the withdrawal can be properly processed. Please refer to the terms of your payment agreement at the time of withdrawal.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MEET & GREET: Drop in Friday August 14th from 9:00-9:30 a.m. This is your opportunity to “Get Plugged In” at PCA. Learn about the different parent organizations in the school while getting organized for the year by ordering lunch, picking up your schedule (Middle School only), dropping off your school supplies.

This is also a time to meet with old friends and make some new ones. Students, be sure to come to Meet & Greet as this is your time to visit before school starts on Monday, August 17.

Guess what Parents?

You can save time (and energy!) and let the Yearbook Committee cover those books in at PCA contact paper for you! There will be no need to take the entire stack of books home and then bring them all back on the first day. It will be done when your student returns on Monday! This service costs $25 per set. For families wanting this service who have 3 or more children at our school, the service is a flat $60. The money earned by Yearbook Committee students will help pay for their updated yearbook equipment.

Locker Assignments Middle School: All students will receive locker assignments during Meet & Greet. Meet & Greet is a great time to get organized, set up your locker, and practice your combination.

School Supplies K through 8th Grade: For your convenience, the school supply lists are posted on the school website. We also have a partnership with School ToolBox providing prepackaged kits for grades K-5. If you ordered a school supply pack it will be delivered to your home the first week of August. For more information, contact School ToolBox- information on the next page.

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SCHOOL SUPPLIES

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SCHOOL SUPPLIES

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   TRAFFIC PATTERN East Field VPK Parking K-8 TRAFFIC

Playground

NO K-8 DRO P OFF/ /

Playground

PLAZA BREEZEWAY

K-8 Car Line Drop Off & Pick Up

Pres chool Parki ng

AUDITORIUM

Pa rki ng

K-8 TRAFFIC

K-8 TRAFFIC Vi sit or Pa rki ng

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SCHOOL FLOORPLAN School Hours: *8:30- 2:30 p.m. (Elementary) *8:30-3:30 p.m. (Middle School) Afterschool care available until 6:00 p.m.

*Carline begins at 8:00 a.m. Students are expected to be in the auditorium by 8:20a.m.

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WHAT’S NEW New Programs ■

Meet the Masters- Meet the Masters has been providing engaging art curriculum to schools and districts since 1985.

Students will learn about art history through multimedia presentations and hands on projects. Classes are once per month.

The program is designed to be taught by classroom teacher or parent volunteers with minimal prep time. If you are interested in volunteering one day per month, please indicate that on your P.A.W.S. membership.

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Middle School Flag Football—Middle School boys and girls will have the opportunity to try out for the flag football team.

This year we will play both away and home games. Season will start in August. See Coach Wicker for more details

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Middle School Soccer— Middle School boys and girls will have the opportunity to try out for the soccer team. This year we will play both away and home games. Season will start in October. See Coach Wicker for more details

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Ascend Math- Students in grades 5-8 will work at their own pace through this online math program building on current math knowledge or filling educational gaps quickly. This program will provide individual learning paths regardless of grade level automatically. Students work only on the objectives they do not know.

Program Enhancements ■

Student Server—updated student server, increasing security and secure access for our students. Updated software including Microsoft office suite.

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Smart TV’s—All classrooms are equipped with Smart TV’s which are being wired for closed circuit broadcasting for morning announcements

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Intruder Resistant Glass—All glass doors were treated with 8mm intruder-resistant film. This film will not shatter or tear in the event of an intruder on campus, giving the staff ample time to initiate lock down drill procedures and secure the campus.

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Curriculum- Social Studies curriculum in grades 4th and 7th grade have been updated. They are the final two grade levels to receive the newest copyright dates

Enrichments

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Creation Studies Institute- We are pleased to announce our partnership with Creation Studies Institute to provide science based afterschool enrichment programs with a biblical worldview. The cost is $80 per quarter and is available for students in grades K-5. The classes will meet on our campus for one hour a week. Tentative topics are: Science Explosion (Chemistry), Created in God’s Image (Anatomy), Ocean Life, and Fun In Motion.

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Run With Coach- This fall, Coach Wicker will lead students in grades K-8 through fun and active lessons, preparing them for the non-competitive 5K event at the end of the season! The training will run for 12 weeks- NO experience necessary. Students will need to wear running shoes and bring water to practice. Students will receive a T-Shirt and entrance fee for the Flapjack Dash here at Parkridge Church on Thursday November 26.

PLUG IN . Plan ■

Advocate

Witness

Serve

Parent P.A.W.S. is an organization of volunteer parents who partner with the Parkridge Christian Academy’s administration and staff to enhance the student activities, community public relations, outreach, and services. The following are just a few of the events organized by parent P.A.W.S. volunteers that demonstrate how they leap into action throughout the school year.  School Pictures and Class Pictures  Book Fair  Thanksgiving Feast  Christmas Tree Fundraiser  Teacher Appreciation Week

Become a P.A.W.S member by filling out the membership form available in the front office. The membership cost is $10 (includes National Background Check through First Advantage). To be able to volunteer in classrooms, fieldtrips etc. a background check will need to be done.

MOMSnext meets on our campus monthly. As mothers enter the school years, new challenges and issues arise, but the need for community and hope remains. For this reason we offer MOMSnext, a ministry to mothers of school-age kids. A MOMSnext group is an open, accepting place for all mothers of school-age kids to experience authentic community, personal growth, practical help and spiritual hope. For more information, contact Sherry Clements at 440-785-3598.

All Pro Dad’s Day is a monthly school program where dads and kids meet to have breakfast and enjoy meaningful conversation that strengthens their relationship. We meet on Friday mornings from 7:00 a.m.-7:45 a.m.

Quarterly fellowships are also arranged. For more information, contact Robert Wicker at rwicker@parkridgeca.com. Be sure to check out our local chapter page at www.allprodad.com/3728

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   

Share your gifts, serve the school The mission of PAWSis to coordinate and provide parent volunteer services, which serve the school community, for the purpose of Kingdom education.

PCA P.A.W.S. PAWS is our parent group for families whose children are currently enrolled at PCA. There are many opportunities in which to serve. This group meets once per month and coordinates all the events on campus. We are currently looking for parents to serve as committee members. Please contact info@parkridgeca.com for more information or stop by the front office

School Advisory Board Parkridge Christian Academy is looking for interested family and community members to serve on our Advisory Board.

The board meets quarterly to discuss major goals, ensure financial solvency, solvency, and strengthen the school and school programs. Board Members are a reflection of the ministries of Parkridge Church and must be active members of a like-faith church

Meet the Masters We are developing a love for art through a program called “Meet the Masters”. This program is volunteer led, and prescripted. The lesson, materials and example is provided. Once per month we are looking for parents to teach art lessons on a preselected artist.The Meet the Masters experience begins with a multi-media assembly using engaging Powerpoint slides, artist voices and music where the children learn about the fascinating lives and famous works of the Master Artists. Interactive questions and multi-media content will captivate the students while walking through a virtual museum filled with interesting stories and facts. An art background is not necessary because all lesson plans are scripted, illustrated and timed. The art vocabulary, artist name cards, art elements, props and visuals are all included and organized—nothing to research or gather.

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Book Fair PCA organizes a school book fair each year to benefit our media center. A Book Fair committee organizes and staffs the Book Fair. Committee members and other volunteers also assist students with their wish lists as well as help parents with their shopping. Would you consider volunteering your time before, after or during school hours?

Room Parents Room Parents are a very important part of our PCA community. They provide volunteer services to a teacher’s classroom and the PCA P.A.W.S. A Room Parent should enlist the help of other parents and be able to delegate these responsibilities. The teacher will tell you of their specific needs and determine exactly what type of assistance is needed. Typically, Room Parents help coordinate class parties, special events, parent volunteers in the classroom, and maintain a positive attitude among the parents in your classroom. While a Room Parent’s main responsibility is to the teacher and class, P.A.W.S. does ask for your help to further communicate with our parents throughout the year. It is the Room Parent’s responsibility to communicate with the classroom parents and keep them informed. Every child’s family should be given the opportunity to be involved in their child’s classroom and school.

Spring Musical On Thursday March 17, 2016, Parkridge Christian Academy will put on our Spring Musical. We need parent volunteers to help in a variety of ways including prop design, set construction, bringing snacks, assisting during rehearsals and more.

If you are willing and able to volunteer for the Spring Musical, please contact our Musical Director Mary Hudson at maryhudson@parkridgeca.com.

Appreciation Buffets Our parent volunteers coordinate two delectable buffets: one for staff and one for students. During TerraNova testing, PAWS parents put together daily breakfast bags for our students. Later in May, a teacher appreciation luncheon is hosted by parents.

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Support While You Shop

Box Tops Look for the Box Tops for Education logo on participating products, from food to clothing to office products. Clip them, bag them with your homeroom teachers name and send to school with your student. Each box top is worth 10 cents. Let’s make every dime count! Visit this website for a current list of participating products: http://www.boxtops4education.co m/ participating-products

Labels for Education We are collecting Labels for Education off of Campbell products. Cut these out and submit to the front office. Labels for Education a fun and easy program where families and members of the community work together to “Earn Free Stuff” for their school! By collecting UPCs and beverage/sauce caps from our many participating products, our school earns points that can be redeemed for art, athletic and classroom supplies.

My Coke Rewards Through the My Coke Rewards program, you can help our school in two ways. 1. Collect the codes off of coke products and submit the tops and boxes to school OR 2. Collect the codes off of coke products, enter them online and donate the points to our school!

More information can be found on their website here.

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STUDENTLIFE Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

EphEsians 3:20 ■ Chapel

Every Friday PCA’s chapel program is designed to reach every student with messages that speak directly to their specific time in life. Each week on campus, four different age appropriate chapel services are held. The elementary chapels are split between two groups and focus throughout the year on character. Each month is dedicated to a different Biblical character trait, such as wisdom, patience, compassion and selfcontrol. Both elementary chapels and Middle School Chapel are on Friday. Parents are welcome to join their students for these chapels.

■ Cheer Squad

Girls in grades K-8 are invited to try out for PCA’s Cheer Squad. The team will begin in early fall and girls will have the opportunity to cheer for home games, during awards assemblies and more. See Emily Hutchinson for more information: ehutchinson@parkridgeca.com ■ Safety Patrol

Safety Patrol meets once per month for meetings and the student monitor the carline and auditorium both before and after school.

Students in grades 5th and 6th are invited to be safety patrols.

Teacher recommendation form required. Complete the interest form during Meet & Greet. The first meeting is Tuesday August 18th at 7:30 a.m. in room 107.

■ Ukulele Lessons

During Music Class, students in grades 3-5th will learn to play ukulele as well as being exposed to a variety of other string and percussion instruments. It is recommended students purchase a ukulele in order to practice at home. Contact our Music Teacher, Mr. Boyette, for more information at tboyette@parkridgeca.com

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■ Amplify Student Ministries Wednesdays and Sundays Amplify Student ministries meets Wednesday evenings and Sunday Mornings here at Parkridge Church.

Families do not need to attend Parkridge Church for their Youth to plug in. This is a great time to grow closer to Christ and other believers in a safe, fun atmosphere just for students in grades 6-12.

■ Community Service PCA strives to foster in its students a concern and willingness to help those in need at school and within the community. Galatians 6:10 encourages, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all…”

As a result, Community Service at PCA is top priority. Community service consists of volunteer hours at church or in the local community. Any summer volunteer service will be added to the previous school year.

A Community Service Form must be filled out by the student and turned in to the School Office to receive credit.

Please fill out and turn in forms within six months of service.

  ■ Athletics

Middle School students compete against local private and public schools in Flag Football, Soccer and Basketball. Students must pay a $50 athletic fee once per year. Come out and support your Parkridge Panthers!

■ Cheer Squad

Girls in grades K-8 are invited to try out for PCA’s Cheer Squad. The team will begin in early fall and girls will have the opportunity to cheer for home games, during awards assemblies and more. See Emily Hutchinson for more information: ehutchinson@parkridgeca.com ■ Spelling Bee and Science Fair

All students will have the opportunity to participate in our local science fair and spelling bee. The Spelling Bee is an individual event and the science fair is a class event in grades K-5 and an individual event for Middle School students. Students who qualify at the local level go on to the ACSI regional levels. Classroom teachers will disseminate spelling lists and science fair rubrics prior to the events.

■ Duke Talent Identification Program (TiP)

Students who score in the 95th percentile or above on the TerraNova-3 are eligible for the Duke TiP. Duke TiP is committed to serving students with advanced academic abilities by providing services and programs to meet their individual needs. Participation in the 4th– 7th Grade Talent Search can offer opportunities such as online curriculum, optional above-level testing, educational programming, newsletters for students and parents, and independent learning materials.

■ National Handwriting Contest

Cursive writing is almost a lost art form as most schools do not teach this skill. In addition to teaching cursive and manuscript, our students also participate in a national handwriting contest through Zaner-Bloser.

The writing samples will be completed in class.

■ Field Trips

Students participate in field trips on a quarterly basis. Middle School student have the opportunity to travel to various parts of our country on 3 year rotation, learning about the development of our country from a Christian perspective. The students traveled to DC, Philadelphia and New York City on a 2-3 night trip in mid May. The dates and setting for this school year are to be determined. The cost of the trip is around $900 per student. There are multiple ways to fundraise for the trip and student who attend the events usually fundraise about half of the cost of the trip.

■ Family Service Projects

Students and families have the opportunity to participate in a variety of service projects. We call these opportunities JOY Projects: Jesus.

Others. Yourself. As we develop their character, we are encouraging them to grow more Christlike through hands on activities. Historically we have gleened in the fields of Palm Beach County, served food to homeless men and women in Broward County, participated in clothing and food drives, made back packs for children in foster care, and raised money to purchase tools and soccer balls for the Amazon village we witness to.

  FIELD CONSTRUCTION We are off to a good start with about $20,000 in funds for the new athletic field. We are still short of our goal to complete the project.. The athletic field will be built on the North East end of our property. The field will be 120 yards long by 40 yards wide and will include soccer goals and protective fencing and cables. We will fundraise in several ways this year:

The Boosterthon Fun Run will be held on Friday, April 29th. Students will participate in 7 days of character development lessons around the theme “Big World Recess”. This is always a great event and parents are invited to come out and cheer on the kids that morning.

Every year we have Hart-T-Tree farms come out to our property and host a Christmas Tree lot. Hart-T-Tree Farms grows premium, Fraser fir Christmas trees in the mountains of North Carolina and is owned and operated by John and Kathy Chefas.

We benefit from the presales of wreaths and trees. Students begin selling in mid October. A portion of all the presales go directly to the school. This money will go towards our field construction. Students will pre-sell trees and/or wreaths. Wreaths will be available for pick up the Sunday after Thanksgiving on our campus. The students will be given a voucher to then distribute to the person who purchased the tree. Parents just need to arrange wreath pick up (They are fresh and we want the customer to have them as soon as possible).

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